Bus driver shot in retribution for calling police, report states

Baltimore bus driver Craig Ray was killed in retribution for calling police on a neighbor who wouldn't turn down her music late at night, a police report released Tuesday said.

Ray, 34, was fatally shot early Feb. 24 at his girlfriend's home in the 2400 block of Wilgrey Court in Westport. His mother had said she had been told that he was killed after asking a neighbor to turn her music down so he could get some sleep before work.

Baltimore police offered few specifics on the incident before Kevin Barnell Carroll, 34, was charged Sunday with eight criminal counts — including first-degree murder, assault and handgun charges in the homicide.

According to a statement of charges filed in court, Ray went over to an adjacent home just before midnight and knocked on the rear door. Lakendera Parker answered, and the police report said Ray asked her to turn her music down, stop loud banging and quit moving furniture around so his girlfriend's children could go to bed.

"Brief words were exchanged then Ms. Parker slammed the door on Mr. Ray Jr. and the loud noise continued," the police report said.

Ray walked back to his home and called police to intervene. As Ray waited for an officer to arrive, the police report said, Carroll shot him before fleeing in a dark colored SUV.

Detectives said the shooting came in response to Ray calling police. Address records show that Parker had lived with Carroll but she could not be reached on Tuesday.

No attorney was listed for Carroll and a relative could not be found. Parker has not been accused of wrongdoing in this case.

Carroll has been convicted of manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance and manufacturing, dispensing or distributing narcotics, Maryland court records show. He was on probation at the time of the shooting, found guilty in September of second-degree assault in a June incident, court records say. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation ending in September 2015.